Funding from Government
What are they?
UK Government departments.
Who can apply?
Voluntary, community and faith sector organisations, and sometimes local authorities.
What do they fund?
A variety of 'good causes' that lie within the Government's current priorities. The Government increasingly contracts for services with the Voluntary Sector.
How do you apply?
Usually through completing an Application Form. Sometimes a business plan is needed. To find out about these funding opportunities, it can help to get involved in appropriate networks.
The exact nature of statutory funding pots depends on the size of grant available.
Large Pots (over 10,000):
| Pros: | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can fund ongoing work | Increasing competition for funds |
| Can fund salaries and running costs (sometimes) | Applicants have to fit funders' priorities which are often political |
| Will often fund unpopular causes | May have strings attached (e.g. certain level of service required) |
| Large-scale funding | Strict eligibility criteria |
| Groups can reapply to continue the same project year after year | Can have complex application and monitoing procedures |
| Staff support often available | More of a focus on project/contract funding |
| May need Match funding | |
| Larger applications can be complicated and time consuming |
Small Pots (£10,000 and under):
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Quick and Easy | Small Amounts |
| Staff support often available | Short Term |
| Wide range of causes | |
| Often local |
The Government Funding Website
The Government Funding website is your online portal to grants for the voluntary and community sector from the following funders:
- Department for Education and Skills
- Department of Health
- Home Office
- Department for Communities and Local Government
- Government Offices for the Regions
The website contains easy to follow details of all current funding opportunities for the voluntary and community sector from Government departments it covers. Please note whether funding streams are currently open.
You can also access application forms and guidance notes for these schemes.
Website: www.governmentfunding.org.uk
There are also a number of Government websites that provide entry points for information about UK Government Departments. These can be found via www.direct.gov.uk or www.number-10.gov.uk
The Compact
The Compact is the agreement between government and the voluntary and community sector in England to improve their relationship for mutual advantage.
By building better relationships the Compact can help government and the voluntary and community sector work better together for the communities they serve.
Use the website www.thecompact.org.uk to find out how the Compact can help you.
Local Compacts are being drawn up for dealings between local and regional government and the voluntary sector. These can be downloaded from the regional pages of the Compact website.
There are also resources including 'Introduction to Compacts', a 'Guide to Good Practice', mini guides, posters and glossaries on terms used in this field.
Government Departments
The duties of some Government Departments are devolved. For further information outside of England see also the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland pages.
Funding for community groups and voluntary organisations is made by most government departments. Voluntary organisations which work within specialist fields will often gain funding from the government department responsible for their area of work (e.g. Those alleviating poverty overseas will often gain funding from the DFID; Those resettling ex-offenders might gain funding from the Home Office) Funding opportunities will vary over time.
Some Departments only provide funding through Regional Government and Development Offices or through Local Government.
More funding for the Voluntary and Community Sector from central and local government is being made through contracts to provide services. You will need to tender for these and provide services under a commercial style agreement.
Some of the more more important Government departments likely to fund community groups and voluntary organisations are outlined below.
Other Statutory funding and regional information is available separately.
Home Office
The Home Office duties have been split with the roles relating to the judicial system now being separated to the new Ministry of Justice.
Ministry of Justice
Selborne House
54 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6QW
United Kingdom
DX 117000 Selborne House
Tel: 020 7210 8500
Website: www.justice.gov.uk
The remaining Home Office roles come under the Home Office headquarters which is made up of:
the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism, which works in partnership with other departments and agencies to ensure a more effective and co-ordinated response to the threats to our security
the Crime Reduction and Community Safety Group, which delivers through the police service and other delivery partners
the Respect Task Force, which works across government to tackle the causes of anti-social behaviour, which lie in families, in the classroom and in communities
a small strategic centre, which advises the Home Office board on overall strategy and direction and the allocation of resources
professional services, including legal advice, analysis and communications support, and programme and project management support
Website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Funding programmes for the voluntary and community sector are on www.governmentfunding.org.uk website.
At various times there may be funding for a realm of social concerns such as:
the homeless; victims of crime; ethnic and religious minorities; socially deprived; youth at risk; drug and alcohol related matters.
Sometimes funds are made available: centrally; sometimes regionally through the regional Government Offices; sometimes directed through Local Authorities or Regional Development Agencies. Funding opportunities will vary over time.
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
The job of the Department for Communities and Local Government is to help create sustainable communities, working with other government departments, local councils, businesses, the voluntary sector, and communities themselves.
Sustainable communities are about things that matter to people: decent homes at prices people can afford, good public transport, schools, hospitals, and shops; people able to have a say on the way their neighbourhood is run; and a clean, safe environment.
The responsibilities are divided into areas:
- Cities and regions
- Communities and neighbourhoods
- Equalities
- Fire and resilience
- Housing
- Local government
Funding programmes for the voluntary and community sector are on www.governmentfunding.org.uk website.
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DU
Fax: 020 7944 9645
Tel: 020 7944 4400 (Open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday)
Email: enquiryodpm@communities.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.communities.gov.uk
The Cabinet Office - The Office for the Third Sector (OTS)
The Cabinet Office now takes responsibility for the Third Sector. It deals with and advises about:
- Charity law and regulation
- Charities Act 2006
- Charity Commission
- Better regulation
- Fundraising and charitable collections
- Voluntary and community sector development
- Compact
- Community participation
- Social enterprise
- Public service delivery
- Third sector review
- Research and statistics
The Office for the Third Sector is responsible for the government's work to support greater participation in society through volunteering, charitable giving and civic engagement and for fostering a stronger voluntary and community sector through better regulation, investment in the capacity of the sector, and greater opportunities to deliver public services.
Office of the Third Sector
35 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BQ
General enquiries Tel: 020 7276 6400
Cabinet Office reception Tel: 020 7276 1234
Email by webform on website.
Website: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/voluntary_and_community/
Department for Transport (DfT)
The Department for Transport devises and manages government policy and legislation on all aspects of transport.
DfT Enquiry Service (0830 - 1730)
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
Tel: 020 7944 8300 (Open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).
Fax: 020 7944 6589
Website: www.dft.gov.uk
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
DEFRA is responsible for the environment, food and rural affairs.
Community groups and voluntary organisations in rural areas, or having concerns related to the countryside, farming or the environment may get funding from a variety of funding schemes operated by DEFRA. Funding opportunities will vary over time.
For general enquiries contact
Library Enquiry Desk
Defra
Information Resource Centre
Lower Ground Floor
Ergon House
c/o Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Helpline Tel: 08459 33 55 77 (within the UK) (Open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).
Textphone: 0845 300 1998
Helpline Fax: 020 7238 6609
Email: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.defra.gov.uk
Department of Health (DoH)
The Departmemt of Health is responsible for all aspects of health. Most, if not all funding available to community groups and voluntary organisations from the Department is directed through Local Health Authorities. Funding opportunities will vary over time. Funding programmes for the voluntary and community sector are on www.governmentfunding.org.uk website.
The Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NS
Helpline Tel: 0207 210 4850 (Open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).
Textphone: 0207 210 5025
Email: dhmail@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.doh.gov.uk
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has replaced the former Department of Education and Skills (DfES). The new department will coordinate work across government relevant to youth and family policy, including children's social services. The department also holds responsibility for pre-19 education, working alongside the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) on higher education policy for 14-19 year olds. Funding programmes for the voluntary and community sector are on www.governmentfunding.org.uk website.
Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
Public Enquiries: 0870 000 2288 (Open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).
Fax: 01928 79 4248
Email: info@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.dfes.gov.uk
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) will lead the Government's work to deliver its long-term vision to make Britain one of the best places in the world for science, research and innovation. It will also lead work to ensure that the UK has the skilled workforce it needs to compete in the global economy.
The Department will work to:
- Sustain and develop a world-class research base
- Maximise the exploitation of the research base to support innovation across all sectors of the economy
- Raise and widen participation in Higher Education
- Raise participation and attainment by young people and adults in post-16 education and learning
- Tackle the skills gap amongst adults, particularly equipping people with basic literacy and numeracy
- Increase the supply of people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
Tel: 0207 215 5555
Website: http://www.dius.gov.uk
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)
The Department brings together functions from the former Department of Trade and Industry, including responsibilities for productivity, business relations, energy, competition and consumers, with the Better Regulation Executive (BRE), previously part of the Cabinet Office.
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Tel: 020 7215 5000 or 020 7215 6740 (Minicom)
Fax: 020 7215 0105
Email: enquiries@berr.gsi.gov.uk
Website: http://www.berr.gov.uk
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has policy responsibility for museums, galleries and libraries, the built heritage, the arts, sport, education, broadcasting and the media and tourism, as well as the creative industries, the Millennium and the National Lottery.
Most, if not all funding available to community groups and voluntary organisations from the Department is directed through the specific agencies responsible for Culture, Media and Sport such as: Arts England; Sport England both nationally and regionally.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH
General Enquiries Tel: 020 7211 6200 (Open 10:00am to 12:00pm and 2:30pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday)
Email: enquiries@culture.gov.uk
Website: www.culture.gov.uk
See also Statutory Funding pages on this website for other statutory funding agencies and Regional pages for details of statutory funding contacts for the regions including Primary Care trusts regional Government Offices, Regional Development Agencies, Local Education Authorities and Local Authorities and Councils.
See also Statutory Funding pages on this website for other statutory funding agencies and Regional pages for details of statutory funding contacts for the regions including Primary Care trusts regional Government Offices, Regional Development Agencies, Local Education Authorities and Local Authorities and Councils.
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